"Saxophonist Greg Vail is one of the most prolific musicians on the instrumental Jazz scene today."
Walmart.com

"Saxophonist Vail is one of Orange County's best-kept secrets..."
The Orange County Register - Steve Eddy

GREG VAIL CD REVIEWS

Greg Vail CD - Emotion

"Whether blowing a tenderly passionate soprano sax, firing up his exciting and playful alto, or edging into a more aggressive stance with his brilliant technique on tenor sax, Greg Vail is a show stopper nonpareil, and one of the most dynamic saxophone players on today’s instrumental scene."
Jonathan Widran (National Jazz Author)

Greg Vail CD - Smooth Jazz Classics

"Greg Vail's most recent CD "Smooth Jazz Classics" is awesome. Greg has an all star line up on the venture and it shows. A great selection of songs with fabulous arrangements."
WaynesWorld

Greg Vail CD - Christmas The Hymns

Whether he's playing a passionate ballad or dazzling us with a charged performance, Vail remains one of contemporary music's most dynamic performers. A man of deep personal conviction, Greg brings all these elements to a wonderfully joyful rendering of the holiday classic. Enjoy!
Canada’s Café Jazz – JazzLynx.net - 2004

Greg Vail CD - The Gospel Truth

The first thing I noticed upon listening to The Gospel Truth was some of the best sax playing I’ve ever heard. Greg Vail is a superb technician, and he is so much more. You see, every song he does is played from the heart.

The Gospel Truth is sometimes upbeat but usually soft and lingering. All of the music seems to be dedicated to Spirit and thus dedicated to the Spirit that lives within all of us. The end result is music that is serene and peaceful; meditative yet contemporary.

Greg offers his superb talent on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxes, as well as flute and piccolo. He is ably supported by keyboardist Rob Mullins. There are 10 selections on The Gospel Truth and each is so pleasing, you’ll listen to this album over and over again.

More, the saxophone is often regarded as the most romantic sound of all instruments. Well, Greg Vail raises the bar of excellence with this CD. That makes The Gospel Truth just about as smooth and easy, ambient and moving as can be. Greg blends contemporary jazz to offer a sound that speaks of love—love and praise of God, and all God’s people.

Greg Vail is regarded as a saxophonist without peer. He has recorded on literally hundreds of smooth jazz and Christian CDs over the last 20 years—indeed when you hear great sax on the radio or TV, it may well be Greg.

The Gospel Truth, though, is an ultimate testimony to talent. If you’ve been looking for music that is all at one glorifying, romantic, soft and ambient, run (do not walk) to get your copy of The Gospel Truth!
Richard Fuller, Senior Editor of Metaphysical Reviews

Greg Vail CD - SAX BY CANDLELIGHT

"Greg Vail has a glorious touch. He takes our old favorites and gives them a whole new meaning, a new perspective. This is music to fall in love to all over again."
Amazon.com

Greg Vail CD - Christmas the Hymns

Of course it is more tempting for sax lovers to stuff their stockings with the best selling Kenny G, Dave Koz or Boney James CDs, but this smaller indie release by one of smooth jazz’s most durable saxmen is a spirited delight on par with those.

Vail and his right hand man, Rob Mullins, vary the mood nicely, from the frantic, classically tinged soprano-driven opening track “Deck The Halls” (complete with an explosive synth orchestra) to the gentle, reflective “What Child Is This.”

Vail adds a sweet wistfulness to “Silent Night” by choosing to go with flute.

He opens “O Holy Night” with an ominous atmosphere featuring a distant alto flute intro before easing into the main, soft rhythmic tune on soprano.

On the cover of the disc, Vail’s “featuring Rob Mullins” credit seems to give the keyboardist an almost equal billing; the tandem is in perfect synch on the simply arranged, gorgeous piano-soprano duet of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”

Mullins adds some exotic chimes and percussion textures to a dreamy rendition of “We Three Kings.”

The variety will more than hold the listener’s interest even as we wonder why he’s wearing sunglasses on a project celebrating songs usually associated with cold and snow.

This CD is available through Vail’s website at www.gregvail.com.
Jonathan Widran, National Jazz Writer

Greg Vail CD - Christmas the Hymns

"CHRISTMAS THE HYMNS, is destined to become your favorite holiday CD."
SmoothJazz.com

Greg Vail CD - Emotion

"Fans of pop-jazz supergroup Kilauea have been licking their lips over the long anticipated release of Greg Vail's opening solo statement E-Motion, and the charismatic multi-saxman does everything musically possible to fulfill their fantasies.

Infusing the same type of frenetic energy and silky passion as in his live and recorded performances with the band, Vail keeps his ideas melodically simple while venturing into enough edgy improvisational territory that will keep obvious comparisons at bay.

While punchy gems like the title track will have ears salivating coast to coast, and the Smokey Robinson cover "Just To See Her" finds a safe familiarity, the real standouts are the smoking blues-brass gun "Ben-Jamin" and the swaying orchestral centerpiece "In The Beginning". These two spin all emotions into unexpected directions.

Peter White and Carl Verheyen add some impressive string work, helping Vail establish his own voice on what could have been just another impressive pop jam session"
AMG Review

"With a blend of smooth jazz and old school jazz Greg Vail really brings traditional Christmas music to life... the musicianship on the album is amazing... jazz at its finest."
TeenJazz.com

Artist Biography on Walmart.com

Saxophonist Greg Vail is one of the most prolific musicians on the instrumental Jazz scene today. Regarded as one of the best session musicians in Los Angeles, Vail is equally proficient on the soprano, alto and tenor saxes.

Vail started playing the sax at the age of six, inspired by a professional saxophone player, his grandfather. He continued his studies through junior high, high school and college, eventually receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal State (Long Beach) with a major in music.

After graduation from college, Vail moved up the line from local bands to playing with national recording artists. He established his reputation in the Gospel music world and performed with Gospel artists such as Leon Patillo, Jon Gibson and Petra on over 70 gospel albums.

He performed and recorded with other notable artists including Billy Idol, Peter White, Rob Mullins and Kilauea, a band Vail joined when it first started in 1991. Joining Kilauea proved to be a pivotal point in Vail's career. Not only did it give him national exposure, but it gave him the opportunity to experiment musically.

Vail became the featured saxophonist on several of Kilauea's albums before finally releasing his debut solo album in 1995, E-Motion, with Brainchild Records. Sax Candlelight followed in 1996, another Brainchild release. In 1996, Vail also recorded a series of albums for Time-Life.

Comments and Reviews - posts from the Fans

"u rock that soprano!"

"great solo skills"

"Love your mellow sound."

"This is probably my favorite tenor solo ever."

"Just hearing this smoking solo helped re-ignite my sax playing..."

"Drift away music...so, so soothing!"

"Wonderfull!!!!!!"

"Yesss!!! only word to describe this..... is SMOOTH!"

"exellent"

"I love this is so beautiful, thank you for the wonderful music, It is so beautiful!!!"

"Fantastic Jazz, Overtones, Improvitations, Very Very good!"

"* * * * * perfect"

"Love your flute and saxes!"

"this is what started contemporary jazz! truly a pioneer in the genre Greg!!"

"Love it!"

"Bravisimo"

"Excelente!!"

"more please"

"Great band. I love the sax player!"

"that's like 100x better than what anyone in my High School Jazz band could play, including me."

"One of my all time favorite CD's.... You are such an amazing saxophonist and I appreciate the ability to be able to share your wonderful music with others here on YT!"

"I play the saxophone myself and i have to say that i really liked your solo!! it matched the song perfectly (sorry for my english i'm from germany)"